The RF team were so pleased to see Shahla Ettefagh (Founder and Director of MM) and Kusum again and to look around again at the impressive Mother Miracle School. This has now transformed into an IT facility and the IT skills even the youngest children (age 5) are learning are impressive. Komilla, was pleased to be able to see the science laboratory she helped to set up some time ago. The RF Trustees sponsor a girl, Khushi Chauhan, who they were so pleased to see again. Khushi reported that she was doing very well.

We were fortunate to be able to see the Cancer Research Institute, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences. Ganga Prem Hospice works closely with the research institute and the RF team were pleased to be shown around the impressive facility which is clearly doing some great work for cancer patients. We were told how 70-80% of patients are below the poverty line.

We visited a government school in Rishikesh to see if we could start a collaboration and send teachers there on placement. Due to pandemic, it’s been difficult to reach schools as they were closed for such a long time. The schools had several years when learning was on line. Although the offer meant that some families had no access to learning for the whole period.

Swami Vivekananda Health Mission has 11 Hospitals in Uttarakhand and a 12th Hospital at Vrindavan.
 
One of Priya and Nikin’s main aims for this trip was to identify a suitable partner in Haridwar/Rishikesh whom RF can help with improving their women’s healthcare. This is especially close to Dr Priya Patel's heart, being an ambulatory gynaecology consultant in London herself.
 

Ganga Prem Hospice (GPH)

 
The RF team were so pleased and inspired to see the wonderful work which the Ganga Prem Hospice team are continuing to do.
 
We were grateful to have met with and been shown around by Nani Ma, Chief Of Operations (COO) Pooja Dogra and lead palliative care doctor, Dr Taranjit.
 
The monthly oncology clinics (seeing approximately 60-70/month) in their Dehradun clinic satellite centre and Rishikesh outpatient clinic have continued.
 

Divya Prem Seva Mission (DPSM) school

 
The RF team were so pleased to be back at the fantastic Divya Prem Seva Mission (DPSM) school which provides free education and boarding to children whose parents have leprosy and therefore, in essence, have nobody to look after them. We enjoyed celebrating Ashtami with some of the staff's children and distributing ice cream and chocolates to the boys and girls remaining during Easter. Komilla and Matthew returned again to observe the classes more closely at DPSM.